MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles renewed its mastery of rival De La Salle University Green Archers with a 75-68 beating in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball on Tuesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Negrense Samjosef Belangel and Gian Mamuyac finished with 15 markers apiece, while Dave Ildefonso tallied nine points, nine assists and seven rebounds. With the win, the Blue Eagles improved to 8-0.
Ahead by just a point, the Blue Eagles dropped a huge 18-2 scoring blast to build a 57-40 edge before the Green Archers gained some points back to enter the fourth frame down 47-60.
DLSU was able to cut the lead to nine via Schonny Winston’s fastbreak layup with 1:44 left in the payoff period but it was just too late as Ateneo held on to the lead for good.
“We really had to make adjustments,” said Blue Eagles head coach Thomas Baldwin. “I thought La Salle’s discipline on defense was outstanding. We figured a few things out in the second half.”
Kurt Lojera played his best game in green with 21 points and six rebounds while Evan Nelle chipped in 20 points as the Green Archers dropped to 5-3 win-loss slate.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (7-1) cruised to its seventh straight win with an 84-76 triumph over National University Bulldogs (4-4).
Carl Tamayo had a career game of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals, while Zavier Lucero and Ricci Rivero ended up with 16 markers apiece for the Fighting Maroons.
Clinging to a 68-66 advantage with over six minutes left following a three-pointer by Bulldogs’ John Lloyd Clemente, but the Fighting Maroons went on a 10-0 blast behind Rivero, Tamayo and Lucero for a 78-66 edge.
“We started strong nung first quarter, siguro sa lahat ng games namin dito kami nakapag-start ng madiin talaga,” Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde said.
“But sa third quarter, dumami ‘yung turnovers namin so we need to see what errors to improve pa rin. Definitely, coming from this win meron pa kaming male-learn. Kailangan lang namin makita to move on,” he added.
BOX SCORE:
ATENEO 75 – Belangel 15, Mamuyac 15, Ildefonso 9, Andrade 9, Kouame 7, Tio 6, Verano 4, Koon 4, Daves 4, Chiu 0, Lazaro 0, Mendoza 0.
DLSU 68 – Lojera 21, Nelle 20, Baltazar 10, Winston 10, Phillips M. 3, Nonoy 3, Manuel 1, Phillips B. 0, Cuajao 0, Nwankwo 0.
Quarterscores: 21-18, 35-32, 60-47, 75-68./PN
